FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 28, 2018
CONTACT: media@cwsglobal.org
NEW YORK— Church World Service has joined InterAction, the largest alliance of U.S. nongovernmental organizations working in every developing country in the world, in announcing a pledge signed by the CEOs of more than 110 member organizations to improve our efforts to prevent sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment by and of NGO staff.
The pledge stems from the work of leaders within InterAction’s member organizations since December 2017 to address sexual abuse and exploitation within the international NGO community. While many international nonprofits began work on the prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation years ago, changing cultural conversations sparked the need for more robust action. The pledge represents a public commitment to practices and policies that will not only protect the staff of the participating organizations, but also the communities they serve.
“In the United States and around the world, Church World Service is dedicated to building a world where people feel safe and secure. From helping refugees build new lives far from the danger they fled to supporting families as they sustainably address the challenges of hunger and poverty, CWS teams the world over act with compassion and integrity and believe there is no room in this work for harassment, discrimination, exploitation or abuse of any kind,” said Church World Service President and CEO the Rev. John L. McCullough.
“The CWS mission is to transform communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. Ensuring the dignity and protection of all people is a pillar of our work, and as such, harassment, discrimination and misconduct are not tolerated,” continued Rev. McCullough.
“We recognize the long-term effects that sexual abuse, exploitation, and harassment have on individuals and work cultures, and this pledge sets out a series of promises from NGOs leaders. We commit to strengthening the implementation of the policies we have already, and to work together to find common solutions to the challenges that remain, such as preventing perpetrators from re-employment within our community,” said InterAction President Lindsay Coates, who also serves as a co-champion for the Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse for the UN’s Inter-Agency Standing Committee.
In addition to urging action to establish work environments free from sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment by and of aid workers, the pledge calls for establishing a reporting culture within InterAction organizations that supports confidential reporting of all allegations of misconduct, with regular updates to the CEOs. The full pledge can be found on the InterAction website .
Since 1946, Church World Service has provided sustainable relief and development solutions to communities facing hunger and poverty, in addition to supporting refugees, immigrants and other displaced individuals. Learn more about our work at cwsglobal.org.
InterAction is the largest U.S. alliance of international nongovernmental organizations. Our members work with local communities to overcome poverty and suffering by helping to improve their quality of life. Visit interaction.org.